The role of consejos in the educational success of Chican@ transfer students

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-114)While much of the educational research on Chican@s focuses on the barriers to educational success, this study takes a strengths based approach and focuses on the positive influence parents' consejos (nurturing advice) play in the academic success of Chican@ college transfer students. This study moves away from a deficit perspective, challenging the assumptions that working-class Latino families do not care about the educational success of their children and lack the knowledge and resources to guide their children academically. Three working class Chicanas and three Chicanos, all children of immigrant parents, were interviewed in order to document their oral histories and academic successes. Participants all spoke about the positive effect the con.'iejos had on their academic and personal lives. The consejos became words of encouragement that enabled them to overcome adversity. With much admiration, participants reflected on the sacrifices their parents made in order to provide them with an opportunity to obtain a college education. The interviews also revealed incredible stories of struggle, oppression, and survival. This study contributes to the field of education by highlighting the community cultural wealth (Yosso, 2005) embedded within Chicana@ communities